Chapter Two

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the characters, themes, locations etc. If I did, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction, that's for sure.

The loud thumping of poorly produced music thudded throughout the house, shaking bookshelves and desks and waking Scarlet from her sleep. She groaned and rolled back over, wishing herself back to sleep, but residing herself to waking.

Poking her head out of her bedroom door, she yelled across the hall for her little sister, Violet to shut off the rubbish music. Violet, however, just made the music even louder, until Mrs Peakes had to come upstairs to shut it off.

"What a brilliant start to September the first" Scarlet muttered beneath her breath as she found the Muggle clothing she had laid out the night before and went to have a shower, her head pounding and her ears ringing with the bass line over and over again until she felt like shouting.

Needless to say, she was not in the best of moods as she got into her father's car to be driven to King's Cross station to catch the Hogwarts express. Violet was humming the song, just to annoy Scarlet, because she was rather resentful to the fact that, at ten, she was too young to have been accepted into Hogwarts. It was also due to the fact that yesterday Scarlet had eaten her last chocolate frog and such frivolous matters were very important to the mind of a ten year old.

Arriving at a quarter to eleven, Mr Peakes hurriedly grabbed a trolley for Scarlet's trunk and her owl, Wulfric, who gazed at Scarlet with an especially beady yellow eye as he was placed quickly by Violet on the trolley.

"Now, Scarlet, I want you to be safe this year. No going into the Forbidden Forest-" Scarlet grinned, remembering the last time her best friend Rose and she decided to adventure into the depths of the Forest "Scarlet, please be serious about this. There is something happening at Hogwarts this year and it isn't safe- ah, look, it's the Weasleys!" Mrs Peakes waved towards Rose's family. Mr and Mrs Weasley were looking bizarrely grave, as though someone was on the verge of dying. Trailing after then, Scarlet saw with an unsettled stomach, the Potters, Albus at the end looking very sheepish.

Rose gave Scarlet a large hug as soon as she reached her, grinning wildly. A fellow Gryffindor, Rose was especially known for her intelligence and fierce temper and you would not wish to get on the wrong side of her. Scarlet gave a grin and a wave to Hugo, Rose's little brother, Lily Luna, Albus' sister and James, Albus' older brother, who grinned and winked back. He was often like that with girls, and a number of them had passed him, giving him vast smiles and a slight touch.

In groups of two, they leaned casually against the barrier between Platforms nine and ten, until they found themselves in front of the Hogwarts express which billowed copious amounts of steam. Coughing, Scarlet and Rose began chattering eagerly about their holidays, while waiting for the rest of them to pass the barrier. Rose had a brief fling with a French wizard on holiday for the summer near London, but it had apparently meant nothing. Rose tended to attract more boys than was seemingly possible. The only boys Scarlet had seen all summer was the semi-alright Muggle boy down the corner of her street, several random boys in Diagon Alley and Albus Potter. She turned to see him in a tense conversation with his parents.

"Dad, seriously, what's going on at Hogwarts? I won't tell anyone, I promise"

"I can't tell you, Ministry business, but you have to stay out of it, you hear? Al, I'm serious. This is bad and I can't believe they would-"Albus' father, Harry seemed to zone out. His eyes glazed over and he was only awakened when his mother, Ginny put her arm around him.

"I promise" Albus gave his father a brief hug and then his mother grabbed him too and kissed his cheeks. Spotting Scarlet watching, he flushed and pouted.

"Muuuummm" he hissed, as Rose giggled, watching him too. When he looked back at Ginny, he was surprised to see tears in her eyes. "Hey, Mum, it's ok, we'll be safe, I promise" he gave her one final hug as the whistle was blown to board the train. He glanced around to see Scarlet wishing her family goodbye and same with Rose. They all boarded the train as it began to move and waved to their families as it rushed away.

…..

"What do you think's happening at Hogwarts?" Rose leant forward towards Scarlet as green hills rolled past

"Something bad, something that's happened before and nobody is very happy about it" Scarlet replied, as she bit into a cauldron cake thoughtfully. It was silent, save for the train rushing along until a knock on the door interrupted the girl's thoughts.

"It's OK if we sit here? Everywhere else is full" Albus and his best friend, Amias Smith appeared in the doorway. The girls both nodded their consent and the boys entered the compartment, Albus plunking his tall body next to Scarlet and Amias sitting quietly next to Rose, who flashed him her specialty mega-watt smile she saved for most passable boys.

"How's your arm?" Scarlet muttered to Albus as Rose and Amias chatted away. He grinned at her and waved

"All good, thanks to your mum. How were your holidays?" he asked her, glad to have a chance to examine her face without it being awkward and slightly creepy.

"Alright, but this weird boy crashed into my garden, Merlin knows why or how" she nudged him slightly. Albus felt his face growing hot and Scarlet grinned, that magical grin at him and his face felt as though it were on fire

….

"Firs' years! Firs' years! How are yeh, Al? All righ'?" Albus grinned at Hagrid, the gamekeeper as he passed. He could see age catching up with him, as his beard and hair were streaked with more grey that a few months previous. He looked anxious, in a very unsettlingly way.

"See you at the feast, Hagrid!" he called behind him, before the steady stream of students pushed him along

Amias, Albus, Hugo and Lily got stuck in a thestral-drawn carriage with none other than Scorpius Malfoy, a boy that Albus highly disliked. For one, he knocked Albus off his broomstick in his third-year quidditch match, making Gryffindor lose and two, he was a pompous arse.

"Hello, Potter" he sneered as he climbed into the carriage (it had been the last somewhat empty carriage)

"Piss off Malfoy" he retorted, clenching his teeth. The only thing Albus could think was that at least it was only a short ride to the castle. Though the ride seemed to last longer than usual and he almost fainted with relief once the tall gates guarding Hogwarts came into view. The magnificent castle stood towering, imposing, yet always welcoming. Albus would miss this place when he left in two years.

Pushing past an impatient Scorpius, Albus almost ran towards the castle. He couldn't help being excited for another term at Hogwarts.

A/n: I'm feeling a bit blah about this chapter. Anyways, please review! X